Once again wearing a gold strap around his waist is icing on the cake for Jeff Hardy.

Returning to WWE last year, after a three-year absence, was just as big a deal. Especially after his departure from WWE was surrounded by rumours, hurtful ones, about his life spiralling out of control.

"I was burnt out," Hardy said over the phone this week. "I had my demons. There were rumours all over the place: 'Jeff Hardy is a drug addict. We'll never see him back.' A lot of people felt that way.

"I'm basically clean. They wanted me to go to rehab, but I took care of myself. I didn't need to look in the mirror. I knew I had to get myself right."

While he was gone, Hardy worked in TNA for two years. And with some time on his hands, he finished his motocross track at home. Hardy, who lists Pearl Jam and My Chemical Romance among his favourites, also put time into his passion for music.

Now he has been reunited with his brother, Matt. The tag team is, certainly, one of the best in WWE history.

"I like tag-team wrestling," he said. "I'm pretty happy right now, but ultimately we'll go our own way at some point. We're closer than we've ever been. It's fun to be on the road again."

And how about his recent Wrestlemania Money in the Bank match, where he dropped himself on to Edge from a ladder 20 feet up?

"I wanted to be on the highlight reel," he said. "I figured I'd do it with a crazy jump off the ladder. When you're in front of 80,000 people, it's exciting."

HAS THE EDGE: Your new world champion is ... Edge. Way to go, Adam Copeland. A champ again. Edge, who won the Money in the Bank title shot from the injured Mr. Kennedy on RAW, cashed in on Smackdown and pinned The Undertaker, who was softened up by Mark Henry. Edge will defend at WWE's Judgment Day pay-per-view.

AROUND THE RING:Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reports that The Hillbillies, who will debut next week on Smackdown, are Ray Gordy (Terry Gordy's son) and Drew Hankinson (last year's fake Kane) ... Mr. Kennedy's triceps injury isn't as serious as first thought and he could be back within six weeks.